Door latch structure



June 21, 1938. H, J, MURPHY 2,121,530

DOOR LATCH STRUCTURE Filed April 16, 1936 7 a. E? /0 a r l L '5 (f. WN

y W' lizzy Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,121,530 DOOR, LATCH STRUCTURE Application April 16, 1936, Serial No. 74,657

l 6 Claims.

My invention relates to a latching device of simple and inexpensive construction for use with a door or similar part of a suitable structure.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple, easily manufactured device having a latch means adapted to snap under the action of a spring into a recess or aperture formed in an abutment, the arrangement being such that in order to release the latch for opening the door or the like part, it is only necessary to exert longitudinal pressure on a handle means provided on opposite faces of the .part with which the latching device is assembled. Other objects will appear from the following description.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention:-

Figure 1 is an end elevation' of my improved latching device;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the handle knobs removed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4 but with a side of the outer casing removed showing the parts of my device in latching position;

Fig. 1 is a View similar to that of Fig. 6 but showing the parts in unlatched position;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4 with the parts of my device in latching position;

Fig. 9 is a section similar to that of Fig. 8

with the parts in unlatched position;

Fig. 10 is a part sectional view of a latch actuating member used in a preferred form of my device;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section taken on the line II II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line I2 I2 of Fig. 8 with my actuating member in unlocked position;

Fig. 13 is a section similar to that of Fig. 12 with the actuating member in locked position;

Fig; 14 is a plan view of the slidable latch means used in a preferred form of my device; and

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a spring supporting member used in a preferred form of'my device.

Referring in detail to the illustrations, I have shown, in Fig. 2, a casing I, within which the parts of my latching device are contained, an

apertured plate 2 for securing my device to the (Cl. 'l0-146) proper portion of a door or other part (not shown) with which it is to be assembled, an actuating member 3 extending axially through the casing I for moving the latch means of my device, and a knob-like handle 4 secured to each 5 end of the bar 3.

The outer casing I may be made of one piece of sheet metal, but, in my preferred form, I have chosen to form it of two pieces, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. One of the pieces is 10 inthe form of a three-sided box-like part 5 having an intermediate wall 6 and spaced side walls 1 upstanding therefrom. The intermediate wall 6 has a screw-'receiving aperture 8 and another g aperture having a central portion 9, elongations 15 I0 on opposite sides of the central portion, and a slot II extending into the material at one side of the central opening 9 between the elongations I|l |0 (Fig. 4). The material of the side walls 1 1, adjacent to the outer ends of the elonga- 2o tions IIJ, is pressed out to form the grooves II)EL extending partially across the width of the walls 1 1, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2, 6 and '1. An end I2 of the casing part 5 is opened to permit passage of the latch means therethrough, 25 as most clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The opposed side walls 1 of the casing part 5 are provided with a flange I3 at one end (Figs. 4 and 6) for securing the casing to the plate 2. The other piece of the casing I is in the form of a 30 plate I4 enclosing the open sideof the part 5 and having iianges I5 (Figs. 2 and 5) overlying portions of the side walls 1. The plate I4 has a screw-receiving aperture I6 disposed substantially midway of its length (Figs. 8 and 9) 35 and another aperture comprising a central opening I1 and a slot I8 adjacent to the opening I1 (Figs. 6, '7, 12 and 13). The apertures I6, I1 and I8 are disposed in respective opposite relation to the similarly shaped apertures 40 8, 9 and II Vof the casing part 5. The plate I4 is secured to the part 5 by a means, such as a machine screw I9, extending through the aperture I6 of the plate I4 and the aperture 8 of the intermediate wall 6. 45

A slidable member 20 is assembled within the casing I and adapted to slide longitudinally rela.- tive thereto. The member 20 is provided with a. latch means comprising a beveled nose 2I adapted to snap under the action of a coil spring 22 50 into a recess or aperture formed in an abutment (not shown). The spring 22 is assembled within the casing I and, in my preferred form, has one end bent in the form of a loop 23 which is hooked around the screw I9, as shown in Figs. 55

6-9. The other end of the spring 22 is slipped over a shank 24 formed as an integral part of a f supporting member 25 (Fig. 15) which is shaped to fit within the nose end of the slidable member 20, as most clearly shown in Figs. 6-9. I do not Wish to be limited, however, by the particular spring assembly illustrated and described because the form and position of the spring 22 could be changed or alterations made in the particular construction of the spring supporting member 25 without-departing from the apparent scopeof my invention.

Referring in more detail to the slidable member 20, as illustrated in Fig. 14, I have shown a. one-piece sheet metal part comprising a base plate portion 26 and upstanding spaced side walls 21. Each of the free edges of the side walls 21 at one end extend in angular relation to the plane of the plate 26, and the material adjacent to an end of the plate 26 has been bent back in adjacent relationship to the slanting edges of the side walls in a way to form the'beveled nose portion 2I (Figs. 8, 9 and 14). An aperture 28 is formed in the plate portion 26 of substantially the shape shown in Figs. 6 and 'I with a portion of the material of the plate 26 extending into the aperture 28 for a predetermined distance to form a projection 29 (Figs. 6 and '7) for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully described. A slot 30 is formed in each of the side Walls 21 and positioned in opposed relation one to another.. as most clearly shown in Fig. 14. Each of the slots 30 extends from. the longitudinal free edge o'f one of the side walls 21 to a point adjacent the plate 26. It will be noticed that a free edge of each of the plates 21 adjacent to one side of the respective slot is disposed in an angular relation to the plane of the plate 26 thereby providing the cammed surface 3I.

In my preferred form, the actuating member 3, as most clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11, comprises a tube-like outer casing 32 having external threads 33 at opposite ends for cooperating with internally-threaded neck portions of the knobs 4 to secure them to the member after the latching device has .been assembled with the part by which it is supported. The outer tube 32 is provided with a rectangular-shaped aperture 34 of predetermined size (Figs. 8, 9, 12 and 13) located in stated position on its length. A pin 35 is driven through the itube 32 and is finally disposed at a predetermined position relative to one end of the aperture 34 in such a way that the free ends project beyond opposite sides of the casing. The free ends of the pin 35 are adapted to engage the cammed surfaces 3| for moving the slidable latch member 20 against the action of the spring 22 in a manner which will be hereinafter more fully described.

In order that unlatching of my device may intentionally be prevented, I have provided a locking `means as a part of the actuating member 3 which is adapted to cooperate with a part of the casing in such a way that the slidable member -20 cannot be moved when particular parts of my device are in certain respective positions. The parts of my locking means preferably include a rotatable bow-shaped sleeve member 36 positioned within the tube 32 having a rectangular-shaped projection 31 integral with the material of the sleeve at substantially the center thereof and projecting through the aperture 34 of the tube 32, as most clearly shown in Figs. 6-9, 12 and 13. The material at opposite ends of the sleeve 36 is spaced from respective opposite ends of the tube 32 and formed in a way to provide a flat continuous ring 38 (Figs. 10

and 11) with the material of the outside edgesA A bushing part Y to hold the bushing 4I in secured position. A

key-receiving slot 43 extends through the material of each of the bushings 4I (Figs. 3 and 4).

In operating the locking means of my device, a key (not shown) is inserted into the slot 43 provided in the bushing located at either end of the tube 32, and the bushing is turned until the slot 4 3 aligns with the slot 40 at the end of the sleeve 36. At this point, a particularly shaped key is easily inserted into the slot 40 of the sleeve so that the sleeve may be turned so as to move the rectangular projection.'31 from a position adjacent the material of the tube 32 bordering one longitudinal side of the aperture 34 to a position adjacent the material bordering the other longitudinal side, as most clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

vIn assembling the parts of my device, the spring 22 and the supporting member 25 are assembled in proper position with the slidable member 20 and the assembled parts are positioned within the casing part 6 so that the latch means 2| faces the opening I2 and the longitudinal free edges of the side walls 1 of the slidable member face the intermediate wall 6 of the part 5. The plate I4 is now moved into position on the open side of the casing part 5 with the anges I5 overlapping portions of the side walls 1. The screw means I9 is inserted through the plate I4, the wall 6, and the intermediate spring loop 23 so that the casing pieces and the parts contained within the casing are in secure nal assembly. When the parts have been assembled in .the manner hereinabove described, the cammed surfaces 3l will intersect the elongations I0 of the aperture of the intermediate wall 6.

The casing I is readily assembled with a door or the like part by forming a hole extending from the surface of that side of the door facing the abutment, when the door is in closed position, into the body portion of the door for a distance equal substantially to the length of the casing. After this has been carried out, a smaller hole is bored through the door in right-angular relation to the first hole and intersecting the first hole at a predetermined point. The smaller hole is adapted to receive the .actuating member 3. Asthe cross-sectional area oi' the casing I is relatively small, the first hole needs to have a diameter which is only slightly larger than the diameter of the casing so that after the casing has been passed longitudinally into the aperture, it will be snugly held in position by the walls surrounding the aperture. It has been found that a round hole provides a suitable setting for securing the casing within the body of the door even though the casing is preferably of a box-like shape. My relatively simple means of assemblingthe casing part of my device within the door is a great improvement over ordinary methods which required a relatively great amount of time-taking cutting in the door in order to prepare it for receiving a latch device of the type which is now in common use as against my simple device which can be inserted in quickly bored holes.

After the casing I has been finally fixed in,

proper position within the body portion of the door or part with which it is to be assembled, the actuating member 3 lis passed through the door and the casing from a point outside one face of the door so that when finally positioned the ends of the member project beyond the manner. In order to pass the actuating member 3 through the casing, that end of the member on the same side of the pin as the projection 31 is inserted into the central opening 9 of the intermediate wall 6 and as the member is pushed plate I4 (Figs. 5 and 8) for preventing complete 'axial withdrawal of the tube relative to the casing in the direction opposite to that in which it was inserted. v

The pin member 35 is now located in a position substantially as shown in Figs. 5 and 8 and when longitudinal pressure is exerted upon the tube 32, so as to move the pin 35 toward the base portion 26 of the slidable member, the opposite ends of the pin 35 engage thecammed surfaces 3l of the slidable member side walls 21 with the result that when the pin has reached the end of the slot 3IJ,.as shown in Fig. 9, the nose 2| of the slidable member will have been Withdrawn into the casing against the action of the spring 22. When the longitudinal pressure is released, the4 natural action of the spring 22 forces the latch means 2| into normal engaging position. as shown in Fig. 8, and at the same time the pin 35 returns to the normal position shown in Fig. 8. It will be noticed that when the slidable member is in the position shown in Fig. 9, a portion of the projection 31 extends through the slot I8 of the plate I4 beyond the outside surface of the plate I4. When the latch means 2| is in normal position the projection 31 is disposed entirely within the casing, as shown in Fig. 8. The projection 29 preferably aids in limiting movement of the slidablev member by engaging a side of the tube 32, as shown in Fig. '7, after the camming action has been completed.

My latching device may be easily locked so as to prevent movement of the slidable member out of latching position by turning the sleeve 36, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, so that the projection 31 is moved out of alignment with the slot I 8. After the projection has been move'd out of alignment it will take a position opposite the material of the plate I4 substantially as shown in Fig. 13. As a result of this locking action, it is impossible for the pin member to be moved into engagement with the cammed surfaces 3I for the purpose of changing the position of the slidable member 20. When unlatching is desired, the projection 31 is realigned with the slot I8 thereby allowing the projection to pass part way through the plate I4 when the pin 35 engages the cammed surfaces 3i.

As a result of my invention, I have provided a latching device of simple construction compris- 4front and back of the door in a well known f ing a minimum. number of parts and capable of easy, yet satisfactory, operation.

Obviously, the vmechanical 4structure of my latch device might be widely varied without departing from the principles exemplified by this disclosure and for that reason I do not wish to be limited by the preferred form of my invention as illustrated and describedbecause the scope of my invention is best defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A door latching device comprising, in combination, an outer casing having opposed apertured sides, a spring-actuated member slidably disposed within said casing, said member having a base plate facing one of said sides and upstanding spaced side walls integral with said `base plate, said plate having an aperture in alignmentwith the apertures of said sides, said member having a latch means at one end thereof and a cam surface formed in one 0f said side walls, and a member extending axially through the apertures of said casing and said base plate, said last-mentioned member having means engaging the cam surface of said side wall when pressure is applied longitudinally of said axially-extending member thereby moving said slidable member for disengaging said latch means from a cooperating recess of another part, and a stop means formed in said plate portion cooperating with said axially-extending member for limiting longitudinal movement of said slidable member relative to a side of said casing.

2. A door latching device comprising, in combination, an outer casing having a pair of opposed apertured sides, a spring-actuated member slidably disposed within said casing and having a latch means at one end thereof, said member having a base plate facing one of said sides and upstanding spaced side walls integral with said-base plate, said plate having an aperture in alignment with the apertures of said sides, said side walls having oppositely disposed slotsextending from the longitudinal free edge of each of said side `walls to a point adjacent said base plate, the free edge of the material adjacent to one side of each of said slots disposed in angular relation to said base plate for providing camming surfaces, and a member extending axially through the apertures of said casing and said base plate, said last-mentioned member having means engaging the cammed surfaces of said side walls when pressure is applied longitudinally of said axially-extending member thereby moving said slidable member for disengaging said latch means from a cooperating recess of another part.

3. A door latching device comprising, in combination, an outer casing having a pair of opposed sides, each of said sides having an oppositely disposed central opening with a slot on one side thereof, a spring-actuated member slidably disposed within said casing, said member having a latch means at one end thereof normally disposed in relative latching position, said member having a base plate facing one of said sides and upstanding spaced side walls`integral with said base plate, said plate having an aperyture in alignment with the opening and slot of each of the sides of said casing, at least one of said side walls having a cam surface, and a tubelike member extending axially through the central openings of said sides'and the aperture of said base plate, said last-mentioned member having a projecting means engaging said cam surface when pressure is applied longitudinally of said tube-like member thereby moving said slidable member for disengaging said latch-'means from a cooperating recess of another part, and said tube-like member having a movable locking means adapted to project through the slot adjacent to the opening of one of said casing sides when said projecting means is in engagement with said cam surface and means for turning the locking means out of alignment with said slot when said means is out of engagement with said cam surface thereby to lock said slidable member in latching position.

4. A door latching device comprising an apertured outer casing, a spring-actuated slidable member disposed within said casing having a latch means at one end thereof, said slidable member having at least one cam surface, and a member extending axially through said casing for moving said slidable member for disengaging said latch means from a cooperating recess of another part, said last-mentioned member having a means projecting from at least one side thereof for engaging said cam surface when pressure is applied longitudinally of said member, and said last mentioned memberhaving an aperture and a movable locking means extending through' said aperture, said locking means adapted to be disposed in one position for alignment with an aperture of said casing and in another position -out of alignment with said aperture.

5. A door latching device comprising an apertured outer casing, a spring-actuated slidable member disposed within said casing having a latch means at one end thereof, said slidable member having acam surface, and a member extending axially through said casing for moving said slidable member for disengaging said latch means from a cooperating recess of another part, said last-mentioned member having an apertured tubular part, a means extending from said part for engaging said-cam surface when pressure is applied longitudinally of said part, and a rotatable sleeve disposed within said part having a. projecting means extending through said aperture, said sleeve adapted to be turned for moving said projecting means out of alignment with a cooperating aperture of said casing thereby locking said device for preventing disengagement of said latch means, and means assembled with said tubular part preventing unintentional complete removal thereof from said casing.

6. A door latching device comprising an apertured outer casing, a spring-actuated slidable member disposed within said casing having a latch means at one end thereof, said slidable member having at least one cam surface, and a tubular member extending axially through said casing for moving said slidable member for disengaging said latch means from a cooperating recess of another part, said tubular member having a pin projecting from opposite sides thereof for engaging said cam surface when pressure is applied longitudinally of said member, an aperture located between said pin and one of the ends of said tubular member and in stated position relative to the free ends of said pin, and a movable locking means extending through said aperture,. said locking means adapted to be disposed in one position for alignment with an aperture of s'aid casing and in another position out of alignment with said aperture.

`HOWARD J. MURPHY. 

